FC Barcelona maintained their lead over
Real Madrid, with a convincing 0-4 victory at Malaga. Champions League
candidates Espanyol, Sevilla and Valencia all won their matches as well,
while Betis suffered a home defeat by Sociedad.
Barcelona needed 22 minutes to open the score against Malaga through
Oleguer, and Ludovic Giuly doubled the lead in the 34th minute, before
also scoring a third goal in the 69th. Malaga suffered another blow when
Amoroso was sent off with a red card in the 75th minute, and Gerard set
the final score to 0-4 in stoppage time.
The other team from Barcelona, Espanyol, achieved a 3-1 win over
Zaragoza, with goals from Tamudo and Maxi in the first half, before
Villa got one back on the hour mark. With ten minutes left to play,
Zaragoza's Alvaro was shown a second yellow card and had to leave the
pitch, and in injury time, Raul Tamudo scored another to secure the win.
Sevilla had a relatively easy 1-3 win at Athletic de Bilbao, with goals
from Baptista (2) and Navas, before Guerrero netted a consolation goal
in the 87th minute.
At Valencia, visiting side Albacete successfully defended their goal
throughout a large part of the game, but things became more difficult
when Buades was handed a second yellow card in the 63rd minute. Mista
took advantage by breaking the deadlock seven minutes later, and Angulo
soon added a second to decide the clash, 2-0.
Real Betis conceded a goal from Real Sociedad's Labaka after just four
minutes, but turned things around with goals from Joaquin and Oliveira
after the break. However, Bakero levelled the score in the 66th minute
and Uranga scored a goal in the dying minutes to earn the Basques three
points.
Deportivo were shocked by Racing Santander, who beat the Galicians 1-4
at Riazor stadium. Luque put Depor ahead in the 23rd minute, but three
goals from the Israeli striker Benayoun and one from Guerrero left the
hosts without a chance.
In other matches, Getafe defeated Levante 1-0 with a goal from Michel,
while Numancia lost 1-2 against Mallorca, who scored through Victor and
Iuliano, before Merino got one back for the main relegation candidates. |